Boot-jack



(No Model.)

H. LIGHTWARDT, Jr.

BOOT JACK.

No. 329,576. Patented Nov. 3, 1885.

UNITED STATES FlElCEO PATENT BOOT-JACK.

fiPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.329,576, dated November3, 1885.

Application filed August 19,1885. Serial No. 175,6l2.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY LIGHTWARDT, Jr., of the city of Philadelphia,in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements 1n Boot-Jacks; and I do herebydeclare that the following is afull, clear, and exact de scription ofthe invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to boot-jacks, and has for its object to furnish anarticle of that class which shall not only be of the greatest utilityfor the purposes for which these articles are used, but which shall alsobe of such a construction that it may be converted, when not in use,into an article having the appearance of a double-barreled toy pistol.In carrying out these objects Ihave constructed the device of which Ishall now proceed to fully describe the construction and operation, andthe spe cific points of novelty in which I shall particularly point outin the claims appended thereto.

In short, my invention consists in a convertible boot-jack and imitationdouble-barreled pistol of the construction substantially as hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View showing my inventionopen and in the position to be used as a boot-jack. Fig. 2 is a bottomplan view of the same in the same position as shown in Fig. 1, and Fig.8 is a View in side elevation of the device folded or in the position tobe used as an imitation double-barreled pistol or a pistol for theexplosion of the well-known paper percussion pads or caps.

Like letters of reference mark the same parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings by letters, A A are the two principal membersof the device, each of which represents a complete singlebarrel pistol,except that the handle and stock portions are in halves to cause them,when brought together by folding against each other, to form onecomplete handle and stock. The

various portions of these members are marked,

(No model.)

respectively, the barrels a a, the guards b b, and the handles 0 0. Oneof the members is provided with a lock of ordinary construction,comprising a hammer, d, a nipple or its substitute, d, a trigger, d andsuitable springs, (not shown,) being covered by a plate, 6, which formsone leaf of a hinge, by which the two members A A are hinged together,the other leaf, c, being secured to the other member. These hinge-leavesare let into the inner sides of the members A A, so as to be flush withthe surface thereof, and thereby not to interfere with the proper andclose folding together of the two members. The guards b b are also madefiat on one side with the same object in view, and each of them has anib or projection (marked 1) b located at different parts of theirrespective guards, so. that they will not coincide when folded, but willform, as shown in Fig. 3, points of bearing for the fingers of the userfor the purpose of unfolding the device. Each of the members A Aisformed with a rectangular groove, as at ff, of double the area insection of bars 9 one of which is secured rigidly in each of saidgrooves, and when the device is folded extends into the other of saidgrooves, the end of said bars being shown in Fig. 3, and each bar beingof a length just sufficient to fill the grooves exactly, as shown, thusgiving a flush, neat finish to the device in its pistol form. The memberA is formed with a recess, h, to accommodate the hammer and nipple whenthe device is unfolded, so that in the unfolded or boot-jack positionthese devices will be below the surface and show no projection to marthe finish or detract from the usefulness of the device.

The operation of my invention may be described as follows: The devicebeing in its folded or pistol form, and it being desired to convert itinto a boot-jack, the user by means of the projections on the guardspresses the members apart, causing them to unfold on the hinges untilthe position in Fig. 1 is reached. In this position the bars 9 stand outat right angles to the members A A, and form legs for the boot-jack. Thebarrels a a separate, forming a wedge-shaped opening or space, 13,which, when the handles, also separated, and forming a space, B, are onthe floor, forms a boot-jack with straight members, and by pressing theseparated barrels to the floor and elevating the separated handles aboot-jack wit-h curved members is formed.

It will be seen that by my invention a bootjack of double capacity isformed, which, in addition to its usefulness as such, may be convertedby simply folding its members into a pistol of ornamental constructionand capable of use as a toy or ornament.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent,

1. A convertible boot-jack formed of two members, A A, hinged togetherat e e, and being provided with legs 9 g and guards b b,

for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of members A A,hinges e 6, legs 9 y, and guards b b,having projections b b, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of membersA A,hinged together and having grooves ff,the legs g g, rigidly secured in said grooves, and the bers being hingedtogether by hinge e 6, one 5- leaf of which forms the lock-plate, andthe member A being recessed to receive and contain the hammer and nipplewhen the device is used as a boot-jack, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my 0 own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

HENRY LIGHIWARD'I, JR. Witnesses:

GEO. W. GAIN, DAVID MOILWAIN.

